Tie rod end



R. W. NLES TIE ROD END Filed April 11A, 1935 July 5, 1938.

n INVENTOR. RA YNoNo Inl. N/LES nanas July s, ness PATENT orar-fics TIEBOD END Raymond W. Niles, Ann Arbory-Mioh. Application April 1l, 1935,Serial No. 15,836

2Claims.

Y lhis invention relates to connecting devices forrods andarms orlinksin which a limited universal movement is desired along with freerotative movement between certain of the parts. Bpecincaliy, theinvention relates to an end piece for a tie rod or link by means ofwhich it may be connected to the parts with which it is associated.Among the objects of the invention is the l .provision of meanscorrespondingto and possessing the advantages of a conventional balllioint insofar as angular movement is concerned but having theadditional advantage of providing for free rotation. l Another object isa connecting element which permits free rotation of certain parts whilerestricting to some extent other movements thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, and whereinvsimilar reference numerals desisnate similar parts throughout theseveral views. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rod endforming an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 isa similar view of a somewhat modiiledform.

The connecting element as shown in the drawing comprises a body orhousing portion III having at one side a split clamping sleeve Il orother means whereby it may be iixed to another element such asthe tierod oi' an automobile. l'n the form shown the tie rod (not shown) willbe threaded into the sleeve and the sleeve drawn tightly upon it as bythe bolt I2.

'I'he body or housing portion Il of the element is provided with athrough passage Il enlarged for the greater portion of its length and ofwhich 40 the opening i6 at one end is smaller than the other. Further,the walls of the passage adiacent the opening I6 are shaped to form ahemispherical seat 2li around and substantially concentric with thelatter, the passage being sub- 5 stantlally cylindrical between the saidseat and the larger end opening.

Thislportion Iii with its passage so formed constitutes a housing for anannular race member 2i formed on the outside to ilt the hemisphericalseat 2li andon the inside to receive the enlarged end of a stud 22 whichprojects therethrough and through 'opening I6. The said enlarged endincludes an abrupt shoulder portion il fitting a correspondinglyshouldered surface within the ring or annulus. 'l'he enlarged portion i4is of such size that it cannot pass through the opening in swivelelement 2|, so that the parts cannot separate or fail in event of anyfailure of the balls, or their displacement due vto failure of thespring or other part. The end portion Il is also grooved as at 23 toform the inner race for the anti-friction elements or balls 24, theouter race being formed on the inner periphery of member 2i, thusproviding for free anti-friction rotation of stud 22 within this member.I

'I'he shaft,portion of stud 22 should be, as shown, of a diametersufficiently less than that of opening I6, to permit of the desiredamount of angular movement, and should iit snugly the opening in member2i, so that in its angular movement it is supported by the largespherical bearingl formed by the member 2| on its seat. The lower end ofthe stud22 is preferably provided with a depression 26 forming a seatfor a frusto-conical member 26 carried in a suitable plate 21 thrustupwardly by means of a` suitable spring 26 against the stud 22, thespring reacting against a plate 20 which serves to close the housingafter assembly of the parts. The plate 26 is fixed in place preferablyby being placed upon a shoulder l1 and having the lip 3l spun orotherwise turned over upon l,its edge to fit it permanently in place.

It should be noted that the portioniof the bottom of stud 22 contactedby member 26 lies at or close to the center of curvature of ball section2|, and is also curved to provide point contact between the stud and themember 26 and to allow free rocking movement, so that cooking is notinterfered with or spring action affected during operation.

When the parts have been assembled it is preferred to encircle the stud22 as it projects from the race member 2i with a felt washer Ilpreferably enclosed in metal cover members 36 and 31. The washerassembly may be placed upon the stud 22 when the connecting element isassembled with its associated member 40 and a suitable spring 4I used toexert yielding pressure against the washer-containing housing ll whenthe member 40 is thrust down upon the stud, as by means of the nut I2.'This associated member 40 may be for example the steering arm carriedby the steering knuckle of an automobile.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 2 the race element or member2l, as shown in Figure l, is modified to the form shown in Figure 2,that is, a hemi-spherical cup member having no definitely formed raceinside for the, balls 2la. The stud 22a is also shown as quite similarin form except that it is not provided with a shoulder corresponding toshoulder I4 adjacent the ball grooves, but is flanged as at Ila at itslower end.' .while such flange and lthe stem of the stud are joined by asuitably curved race portion 23a. The flange Ila is in this/embodiment'formed of such size, for the sake of safety, that it cannot pass througheither the aperture in ball portion 50 or aperture I6. At its lower endthe stud carries, instead of a depression, a rounded projection 25aadapted to cooperate with the flattened upper surface of a button shapedcontact member 26a. Further, instead of the additional plate 21, member26amay be supported within the upper ight of a suitable spring 2m.;4In'the' form shown, the spring 28a rests upon cap member 29a which isinserted in the passage I5 of this, form, againstshoulde'r I 1a, and thelip 30a.

turned over it to hold it in place. In this form the capwill be providedwithv a suitable tubulated opening 60 into which a plug 6| is threaded,providing a greasing opening. In the form shown in Figure 1 a suitablegreasing'l nipple is shown at 59.

It is preferred to make the connecting element of a suitable forging,properly machined, and to make the hemi-spherical elements 2| and 50 aswell as members 22, 22a and 26, 26a of material which may be hardened bysuitable heat treatment, so as to produce a satisfactoryl anti-frictionbearing element.

In the use of the device free'rotation of the studs 22 and 22a will beprovided for in the use of the anti-friction bearings while a limitedamount of lateral universal movementof the stud will be provided for inthe u'se of the hemispherical race member seated in the recess.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention is Well cal--A culated to adequately fulll 'the objects andadvantagesprlmarily statedLit is to be understood that the invention issusceptible to variation, modification Aand change within the spirit andscope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tie rod end member including a body portion having a passagetherethrough, said pas sage being enlarged for the greater portion ofits length and shaped at the inner end of the enlarged portion to ,formahemispherical seat hav ing a central opening, a hemispherical bearingmember seated--in 'said hemispherical s eat and provided with aconcentric opening, a stud e'xtending' through said second opening andfrom the smaller end of said-passage, the inner end of said stud beingprovided with a circumferential race for anti-friction elements, saidstud fitting closely in said member but being of suillciently'lessdiameter than the adjacent end of said passage to permit angularmovement. antifriction elements between the enlarged end of said studand the adjacent inner wall of said member tc permit free rotation ofsaid stud, means, for closing the enlarged end of said passage and meansfor exerting thrust against the enlarged 'end of said stud to maintain.the stud, antifriction elements, and hemispherical member in properrelation tov each other and to the hemispherical seat, said thrustexerting means having substantially a point contact with the lower endof the stud at approximately the center point of the hemisphericalmember.

circumferential race for anti-friction elements,

saidstud fitting closely in said member but being of sumciently lessdiameter than the adjacent end of the said passage to permit angularmovement, antifriction elements between the enlarged end of said studand the adjacent inner wall of said member to permit free rotation ofsaid stud, said adjacent wall having a race groove formed therein andfacing the race groove in said stud, means for closing the enlarged endvof said passage and means for exerting thrust against the enlarged endof4 said stud to maintain the stud, anti-friction elements, andhemispherical member in proper relation to each vother and to thehemispherical seat, said thrust exerting means having substantially apoint contact with the lower end of the stud at approximately the centerpoint of the hemispherical member.r

I RAYMOND W. NILES.

